Foot and hand spring-resistance exercising device



Jan. 17, 1967 w. GRZYBOWSKI 3,298,688

FOOT AND HAND SPRING-RESISTANCE EXERCISING DEVICE FiledMay 28, 1964 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

35 Clae 55129506052 1:

wtzeg/s Jan. 17', 1967 Flled May 28 1964 aitozrzegz Jim. 17, 1967 W.GRZYBOWSKI FOOT AND HAND SPRING-RESISTANCE EXERCISING DEVICE Filed May28, 1964 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. zyfiwsfjz W M fizz-c3 6 UnitedStates Patent 3,298,688 FOOT AND HAND SPRING-RESISTANCE EXERCISINGDEVICE Walter Grzybowski, 7249 W. Olive, Chicago, Ill. 60631 Filed May28, 1964, Ser. No. 370,855

13 Claims. (Cl. 272-83) This invention relates to an exerciser devicefor handand/ or foot operation in physiotherapy treatments.

The main objects of this invention are; to provide an improved form of abody-limb exerciser device the regulated use of which will producetherapeutic benefits; to provide an improved exerciser device of thiskind which may be positioned horizontally, vertically or at an angle andto provide an improved physiotherapy device of this kind of such simpleand practical construction as to make its production very economical,its arrangement for use extremely facile, and the results from the usethereof highly gratifying.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a dual type of physiotherapy exerciserdevice constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on the plane of theline 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another adaptation of a physiotherapyexerciser device constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the plane of theline 44. of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of still another adaptation of aphysiotherapy exerciser device constructed in accordance with thisinvention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective taken on the plane of the line 6-6of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, sectional detail taken on the plane of the line6-6 of FIG. 5.

The essential concept of this invention involves a bodylimb contactelement reciprocably mounted on a framepart and having a contact pad forpressuring the element against tensioned fasteners and means yieldinglybiasing the element toward a retracted position on the frame-part.

A physiotherapy exerciser device embodying the foregoing conceptcomprises some kind of a frame-part 11 whereon a body-limb element 12 isreciprocably secured by tensioning fasteners 13 with yieldable means 14normally biasing the body-contact element 12 toward a retracted positionon the frame-part 11 when it is secured to a suitable support S by amounting member 15.

The frame-part 11 as herein shown for the adaptation of FIGS. 1 and 2 isin the nature of right-angle triangular frame whereas for theadaptations of FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 the frame-part 11 is in the nature of anarrow flat plate.

The body-limb contact element 12 for the adaptations of FIGS. 1 and 3 isa single bar, whereas for the adaptation of FIG. 5 it is a pair ofsuperimposed bars.

The tensioning fasteners 13 in each of the several adaptations are shownas knurled-headed bolts with winged nuts and an interposed resilientring, as will be explained more specifically in the later detaildescriptions of the several adaptations.

The yieldable retracting means 14, for each of the several adaptations,comprise conventional springs, as will be explained later.

The mounting member 15 for the adaptation of FIG. 1 is in the form of astool whereas for the adaptations of FIGS. 3 and 5 it is in the natureof an elongated block.

Each of the foregoing components preferably are formed of a light metalsuch as aluminum. However, it could be possible to form them ofthermoplastic.

In the adaptation as shown in FIG. 1 the frame-part 11 is in the natureof a right-angle triangle with the two right- 3,298,688 Patented Jan.17, 1967 angle legs 16 and 17 spanned by hypotenuse 18. The leg 16 hasan extension 19, so that a side view of the framepart 11 resembles anumeral 4 as it appears in certain types of lettering.

The two body-limb contact elements 12, involved in this adaptation, areshown as narrow bars 21 and 22 with slots 23 extending longitudinallymedially of each, nearly the full length thereof. These bars 21 and 22have angled offsets 24' and 25, respectively, over which is fitted afriction pad 26 formed, preferably, or resilient material such asrubber, or a rubber substitute. The bar 21 also has a lower angledoffset 27 whereon is fixed a foot rest 28 removably secured bya pair ofscrews 29.

These two body-limb contact elements 12 are reciprocably secured to theleg 16 and the hypotenuse 18, respectively, by tensioning fasteners 13and the retaining clips 20. Each of these tensioning fasteners 13 (FIG.2) comprises an enlarged, knurled-headed bolt 31 on which is threaded bya wing nut 32 with an interposed short spring ring 33. A pair of thesetensioned fasteners 13 have the stem of the bolt 31 extending throughthe slots 23 of the respective bars 21 and 22 and through holes 34 inthe triangle leg 16 and the hypotenuse 18, with the spring ring 33interposed between the wing nut 32 and the opposed part of theframe-part 11. The turning of the wing nuts 32 tension the spring rings33 which determine the amount of exertion that will be needed for apatient to pressure these body-limb contact elements 12 along therespective leg 16 and/ or hypotenuse 18 of the frame-part 11.

The yieldable retracting means 14 comprise tension springs 35 arrangedalong the opposite perimeters of the body-limb contact elements 12 andthe support leg 16 and hypotenuse 18, respectively. One end of eachspring 35 is attached to a pin 36 adjacent the upper end of the leg 16or hypotenuse 18 with the other end of each spring 35 attached to a pin37 near the lower end of the bar 21 or 22. Such springs 35 normally tendto urge the respective bars 21 and 22 toward the upper limit of theirmovement as determined by the contact of the lower end of the respectiveslots 23 with the tensioning fasteners 13.

Such an assembled adaptation of this physiotherapy exerciser device, asshown in FIG. 1, is secured to a mounting member 15, in the nature of astool. The leg 17 of frame-part 11 is secured to the stool by means ofscrews 38 extending through apertures in the leg 17 and set in the baseof the stool S. The extremity of the extension 19 is secured by a screw39 to cross-piece 41 spanning and bonded to the pair of spaced feet 42of the stool.

Obviously, one of the body-limb contact elements 12, in this FIG. 1adaptation, on the leg 16, is designed for physiotherapy when used witheither the hands and/or the feet. The contact element 12 on thehypotenuse 18 here is shown structured for hand use only. However, it isquite apparent that the lower end of the contact element 12 could havean angled offset to which could be attached a foot piece, as with theother contact element 12 in this adaptation. That would permit the useof the angled contact element 12 for use with either the feet or thehands.

In order to permit a patient to stable himself, when using the element12 on the leg 16 for foot therapy, a pair of handle-bars 43 are attachedat their lower ends to the stool feet 42. Being of appropriate heightand with the upper ends angled outwardly and with mounting hand grips44, a patient can steady himself on one foot as the other is used topump the contact element 12 downwardly against the action of thetensioning fasteners 13 and the retracting springs 35.

The frame-part 11, as herein shown for the adaptation of FIGS. 3 and 4,is in the form of an elongated plate 45 secured at its ends by screws 46to the hereinafter-described mounting member 15.

The body-limb contact element 12, for this adaptation, is a narrow bar47 with a slot 48 extending longitudinally medially thereof nearly thefull length of the bar 47 The opposite ends of the bar 47 have angledoffsets 49 and 50 whereon are fitted, respectively, a friction pad 51and a foot-rest 52, quite as is the case with the adaptation shown inFIG. 1.

The bar 47 is reciprocably secured to the plate 45 by a pair oftensioning fasteners 13, and between retaining clips 20, substantiallyas with the similar elements 12 in the adaptation of FIG. 1. Thetensioning fasteners 13, as shown in FIG. 4, are the same as thosepreviously described. They comprise a knurled-headed bolt 31 on which isthreaded a wing nut 32 with an interposed spring ring 33. Such a pair ofspring-tensioned fasteners 13 have the stems of the bolts 31 extendingthrough the slots 48 in the bar 47 and through holes 53 in the plate 45.

The yieldable retracting means 14 comprises the extension springs 54arranged along opposite perimeters of the plate 45 and a bar 47. Theopposite ends of the springs 54 are attached to pins 56 and 57 spacedlyfixed, respectively, to the plate 45 and the bar 47.

The mounting member 15, in this adaptation of FIG. 3, is a flatelongated block 58 of a length, width and thickness greater than therespective dimensions of the plate 47 which is attached to the block bythe screws 46.

Inwardly adjacent its opposite ends, the block 58 has holes for thereception of fasteners 59 (screws or bolts) for anchoring the block 58to a support S which, as shown in FIG. 3, is a wall. If desired,however, such a block 58 could be used to position the exerciser on ahorizontal support S, such as a stool, bench, table or the like.

Since this adaptation of FIG. 3 is structured for hand and/or foot use,a pair of handle bars 60, of tubular material, are swivelly-supported inpairs of verticallyspaced holders 61 secured to the opposite lateralfaces of the block 58. The upper ends of these handle bars 60 are angledoutwardly and have hand grips 62, of friction material, secured over theextremities thereof. Being swivelled in these holders 61, the handlebars 60 may be positioned with the hand-groups 62 oppositely disposedmore or less parallel with the supporting wall, as indicated in fulllines (FIG. 3) or turned inwardly with the hand-grips 62 in parallelrelationship, as shown in the dotted outlines.

The structuring of the adaptation shown in FIGS. and 6 is quite likethat of the just-described adaptation of FIGS. 3 and 4. The differencesreside mainly in the dual-bar formation of the body-limb contact element12 and the grooved ends of the mounting member 15.

The frame-part 11, in this adaptation of FIGS. 5 and 6, comprises anelongated plate 63 secured at its ends by screws 64 to the mountingmember 15, to be described presently.

The body-limb contact element 12 comprises a pair of superimposed bars66 and 67 of substantially identical form, each with a slot 68longitudinally medially thereof nearly the full length of the bars. Oneend of each bar 66 or 67 has a similar angled offset 69 whereon isfitted a friction pad 70. These superimposed bars '66 and 67 are securedto the plate 63 by a pair of the tensioning fasteners 13, betweenretaining clips 20, quite the same as are the elements 12 of the twopreviously-described adaptations. As shown in FIG. 7, these tensioningfasteners 13 comprise the knurled-headed bolts 31 on which is threaded awing nut 32 with an interposed spring ring 33. In this adaptation ofFIGS. 5 and 6, the spring ring 33 is a conventional spring washer. Sucha pair of tensioning fasteners 13 have the stems of the bolts 31extending through the slots 68 of the superimposed bars 66 and 67 andthrough holes 71 in the plate 63.

the bars 66 and 67.

The mounting member 15, in this adaptation of FIGS. 5 and 6, is a flat,elongated block 75 substantially the same as the block 58 of theadaptation of FIG. 3. However, in this block 75 transverse slots 76 areformed adjacently inward from the opposite ends These are provided topermit the seating therein of the ends of C-clamps to secure the block75 to a desired support S, as for example, a bench, table or the like.

In the blocks 58 and 75 circular recesses 77 are provided for seatingthe wing nuts 32.

The manner, extent and period of use of any one of these adaptations ofthis physiotherapy exerciser device will depend upon the patient and hisattending physician. Whatever may be prescribed, it is apparent thatwith any one of these adaptations the tensioning of the bolt-andnutfasteners 13 will determine the amount of pressure that the patient willhave to exert by the hands and/ or feet to pump the control element 12in one direction and allow the retracting springs 14 to return thecontact element 12 to its normal position.

It will be understood that details of the construction shown may bealtered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention asdefined by the following claims.

I claim:'

1. A physiotherapy exerciser device comprising, a frame-part, alongitudinally-slotted body-limb contact element formed with contact padat one end, fastener means on the frame-part and extending through theslotted portion of the element and exerting a yielding frictionalresistance to the reciprocation of the element on the frame-part, andspring means interposed between the frame-part and the element fornormally biasing the contact element toward a retracted position on theframepant.

2. A physiotherapy exerciser device as set forth in claim 1 whereinresilient material rings are interposed in the fastener means to permitadjusting the frictional resistance to reciprocation of the contactelement.

3. A physiotherapy exerciser device as set forth in claim 1 wherein apad is arranged at each end of the element and a pair of said fastenermeans are disposed longitudinally along the contact element.

4. A physiotherapy exerciser device as set forth in claim 1 wherein thecontact element comprises a pair of bars each with a pad at one end, thebars being superimposed with the pads spacedly opposed and the springmeans biasing the respective bars in opposite directions.

5. A physiotherapy exerciser device as set forth in claim 1 wherein theframe-part is secured to a support for the vertical disposition of thecontact element.

6. A physiotherapy exerciser device as set forth in claim 5 wherein ahandle bar is fixed to the support in upwardly-extending dispositionsubstantially parallel with the contact element to dispose the upper endof the handle bar for gripping by a patient when using the exerciser. v7. A physiotherapy exerciser device as set forth in claim 1 wherein theframe-part is of right-angle-triangular form comprising two right anglelegs and a hypotenuse and said body-limb contact element is reciprocablymounted on one of the right-angle legs and another bodylimb contactelement is reciprocably mounted on the hypotenuse of the frame-part.

8. A physiotherapy exerciser device as set forth in claim 7 wherein astool-type support has the other rightangle leg secured to the stool todispose the One g in vertical relationship to the stool. I

9. A physiotherapy exerciser device as set forth in claim 7 wherein astool-type support has the other rightangle leg secured to the stool todispose the said one right angle leg in vertical relationship to thestool, and a pair of handle bars are fixed to the stool inupwardly-extending disposition substantially parallel to the contactelement on the one right angle leg with the upper ends of the handlebars disposed for gripping by a patient using the exerciser.

10. A physiotherapy exerciser device comprising, an elongated mountingmember adapted for positioning on a support either vertically orhorizontally, a frame-pant fixed to the mounting member, alongitudinally-slotted body-limb contact element formed with contactpads at the opposite ends thereof, fasteners fixed on the framepart andextending through the element slot for exerting a yielding frictionalresistance to the reciprocation of the element on the frame-part, andspring means interposed between the frame-part and the element forbiasing the contact element toward a retracted position on theframepart.

11. A physiotherapy exerciser device as set forth in claim 10 whereinthe mounting member has means for securing it in fixed relation to asupport.

12. A physiotherapy exerciser device as set forth in claim 10 whereinthe contact element comprises a pair of bars each with a pad at one end,the bars being superimposed on the frame-part with the pads spacedlyopposed and the spring means biasing the respective bars in oppositedirections.

13. A physiotherapy exerciser device as set forth in claim 12 whereinthe ends of the mounting member are recessed to seat clamps foranchoring the device to a support.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 540,433 5/1957 Canada.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner.

1. A PHYSIOTHERAPY EXERCISER DEVICE COMPRISING, A FRAME-PART, ALONGITUDINALLY-SLOTTED BODY-LIMB CONTACT ELEMENT FORMED WITH CONTACT PADAT ONE END, FASTENER MEANS ON THE FRAME-PART AND EXTENDING THROUGH THESLOTTED PORTION OF THE ELEMENT AND EXERTING A YIELDING FRICTIONALRESISTANCE TO THE RECIPROCATION OF THE ELEMENT ON THE FRAME-PART, ANDSPRING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE FRAME-PART AND THE ELEMENT FORNORMALLY BIASING THE CONTACT ELEMENT TOWARD A RETRACTED POSITION ON THEFRAMEPART.